Murray forced to wait for WBA shot

WBA middleweight mandatory challenger Martin Murray will have to wait a little longer for a title shot at champion Gennady Golovkin after the Kazakhstan fighter was awarded a special permit to face Curtis Stevens.

Undefeated Golovkin, who has held the WBA title since August 2010, requested a special permit from the Association and will now fight Stevens at Madison Square Garden in New York on November 2.

"I am happy to fight in front of the boxing fans in New York City again," Golovkin said. "Madison Square Garden is a very special place for me. I will put on my best performance and defend my titles once again in this great city."

Murray suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Sergio Gabriel Martinez in his last outing in April, and has recently called for a shot at new IBF champion and fellow Brit Darren Barker.